Michael Landsberry gave his life protecting students from a school shooter in 2013. Now, the Reno community wants its newest elementary school to be named for him.

The Washoe County School District put a call out for suggestions to name its newest elementary school in the South Meadows. Fifty people suggested Landsberry's name. The second-most suggested name, at 10, was South Meadows Elementary.

Landsberry, a 45-year-old math teacher, Marine veteran and a master sergeant in the Nevada Air National Guard, was shot to death on Oct. 21, 2013, while trying to disarm seventh-grade student Jose Reyes, who had opened fire at the Sparks Middle School campus with a 9mm semiautomatic handgun before killing himself. Two other students were injured.

Alyson Castro, of the district's school naming committee, said members will take a close look at all of the nearly 200 names submitted.

"I think it's very important to take each comment into consideration before making a final decision," Castro said.

The final say on what the new school will be named is in the hands of the trustees, but it's the naming committee's job to make a short list of semifinalists.

The committee will evaluate suggestions at their meeting Wednesday, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the central administration building, 425 E. Ninth St. There will be an opportunity for public comment.

Other names at the top of the list were former Washoe County educators and a location-oriented suggestion.

"Naming schools with the geographical name really helps maintain pride in [the] community for students," read one of the anonymous submissions that suggested the "South Meadows" name.

Top 4 name suggestions:

Suggestion

#

Description

1

Michael Landsberry

50

Sparks High math teacher who died while protecting students from a school shooter in 2013. "Michael Landsberry' s sacrifice set an example to other teachers and leaders of our Washoe County community. His brave act should always be remembered."

2

South Meadows

10

This popular suggestion mostly pertained to the fact that the schools location was physically located in the South Meadows.

3

Nick Poulakidas

7

Former WCSD teacher, vice principal and principal. "His contribution may not have been land or monetary — but he contributed in many ways to the education of 1000's of students."

4

Fred Horlacher

4

A beloved Reed High School history teacher. "I still remember him to this day being the best and most inclusive teacher I' ve ever had. He's the only teacher that got me involved in a class."

Wednesday night's committee meeting should pare down finalists to no more than 10, according to WCSD spokesman Riley Sutton. The committee could also add their own suggestions.

Following the meeting, the semifinalists will then be made public and the committee will put forth a call for public comment. The hope is that people who made the suggestions will come forward and add further context as to why their suggestion would fit the school best.

About the new elementary school:

The new elementary school at South Meadows is one of the first of 15 new schools slated to be built by WCSD over the next decade thanks to the passage of the WC-1 sales tax increase.

The new campus will be adjacent to the Bella Vista Ranch housing development near the corner of South Meadows Parkway and Veterans Parkway. Land for the school was donated by Toll Brothers, the Bella Vista Ranch developer, and WCSD hopes to break ground on the project in early 2018.

Sutton said the South Meadows campus is set to open in August 2019 in conjunction with two new middle schools in Spanish Springs and Sun Valley, both also funded through WC-1.

The new South Meadows campus will relieve overcrowding at Brown and Double Diamond elementary schools. Two of the district's most overcrowded schools, according to Sutton.